A Challenge: Be a Student as Much as a Leader
What if someone was as much a student as a leader? The result would be a well-balanced, growth-oriented individual. Although this would generally be true, the answer does not stop here. Many view being a student as something young people do. A student leaving a campus never looks back, right? Some leaders have done this…
5 Things My 20-Something Self Should Do, 30 Years Later
Most days as a 50-something I feel more like a 20-something. The difference is a few wrinkles and hindsight. Nothing mentors better than shared experiences. (tweet to share) Part of the reason why I feel like a 20-something is because of what I have learned from Generation Y (aka Millennials). And the reason for this…
What Young Professionals Don’t Understand About Social Media
Guest Post by Danny Rubin Millennials, America is officially ours. Pew Research Center reports Millennials will overtake baby boomers in 2015 as the largest living generation in the US. Bravo, everyone. We did it. Soon enough, everyone will bow to Generation Y. We make the rules! We call the shots! When Millennials have full control, I’m certain we…
Live and Lead So Others Will Not Miss You
The Tracking Wonder #Quest2015 led by Jeffrey Davis has inspired key questions we need to consider deeply more frequently than just at the dawn of a new year. These are questions to be lived daily. Although there were three questions this past week, I will only focus on one. The question is from Seth Godin, and it…
Explaining What You Do to Your Parents
When I first read this article by Danny Rubin, I had a good chuckle. I always had this challenge with my career! Try explaining being a Legislative Assistant for a U.S. Senator to your parents! I read about certain issues, worked with legislative committees, answered constituent mail, and participated in town hall meetings…. And, yes,…
Two Principles for A Life Well Lived
Earlier this summer, I visited my parents in South Dakota. We usually go out to the farm and visit relatives along the way. Visiting our mostly vacant farm still stirs an emotion of what was once there and what remains in our hearts. Part of our tour took us to the graveyard in Bowdle, visiting…
Paths: Generations, Mindfulness, Small Beauty
In my life, one of the busiest seasons is the first quarter. New projects kick-off at work and one of our industry’s largest trade shows occurs (HIMSS). All in all, there are many parts that begin to move all at once, or so it seems. In my pastime of writing on Thin Difference, I have…
Remember Context: A Generation Necessity
Context is essential. In many situations, context is necessary into order to understand the question being asked or the statement being made. Context provides the circumstances or events surrounding both. Context is the stage and backdrop in which we interact. Remember Context We need to remember context. This is especially important when discussing generations. Looking…
A Generational Approach of College Student Debt
Guest Post by Marcela De Vivo Starting a new chapter in your life can be exciting and scary, and full of possibilities. Making sure you start off on the right foot on the path to your financial future is important. New graduates and soon-to-be graduates are facing some of the highest levels of student loan debts…
Creating An Intergenerational Mindset
Guest Post by Dan Oestreich Many years ago I listened to the late Santiago Rodriguez, then Director of Multicultural Programs at Apple Computer. He was discussing trends at the time in training programs to broaden diversity awareness in organizations. He recounted how many organizations had developed sessions to elaborate the primary characteristics of various races…
What Will Stand?
Our family farm has mostly disappeared. The land still flows, but the homestead signs are almost gone. When I went to our family farm last year, I snapped this picture. These grain bins are the last reminders that a family worked this land. One of the odd things about them is they were present before…
What Story Does Your Skin Tell?
Did you know skin is our largest organ? Did you know if you took your skin and laid it flat, it would cover 21 square feet of space? We think of our skin of something that protects us. It can be irritated at times from mosquito bites or poison ivy. Even though we feel an…